THE GREATER MANCHESTER REGIONALLY IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL AND
GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SITES GROUP

The GMRIGS Group was set up in 2004 to
continue the work started in the 1970s by Manchester Museum staff as part of a
national museum initiative to record local examples of geological importance.
Most of the people currently involved are members of the Manchester Geological
Association. The MGA has supported GMRIGS both financially and with geological
expertise, as have other geoconservation organisations, including Natural
England and the British Geological Survey.

What do we do? We have over 700 site
records, created in the 1970s which are systematically being revisited. Each
site, if it still exists, is assessed using UKRIGS criteria to see whether it
should be designated as a RIGS to represent the geodiversity in Greater
Manchester. If it is, a report is submitted to the relevant local authority for
approval and then the site is added to their planning database. If at some
later date a development is planned for that area, the value of the RIGS site
affected will be considered by the planners when making their decisions.

GMRIGS is also a member of GeoConservation UK
(formerly UKRIGS), the body which co-ordinates and represents local RIGS groups
nationally.